One morning last summer while finishing up a donation of eggs from Featherridge farm I thought it would be wonderful to always have farm fresh eggs. The only way to actually guarantee that possibility is to raise chickens. Those of you who know me are probably frightened at the thought of my caring for farm animals (my propensity for killing off plants is notorious). That fear is well founded….but fear not good friends! While I may not have the talent to care for our feathered friends we know people who DO know how to take care of the cluck clique.
After a year of getting through barriers, red tape and fertilizer we have created a cycle of friends looped together in a way that brings us to breakfast each day in a healthier, friendlier and MUCH tastier way.
First, thanks to the City of Kingston for making room at the Forsyth Nature Center for our chickens. Special thanks to Mark DeDea who donated his time and energy to building the coop in Mary’s pen (Mary the sheep). Also thanks to Mary for co-habitating with her new pen mates!
The inhabitants, donated to us by Billiam Van Roestenberg of Libertyview farm are a dozen hens that lay lovely blue, green and brown eggs.
Thanks to “Farmer” Frank Nazzaro who not only brings us donated produce from Hannaford and Davenport also brings the veggie trimmings FROM the soup kitchen to the nature center for the chickens (and friends) to nibble on.
The chickens will be used at the nature center to help teach children about farm animals, life cycles of chickens and eggs.
We’ll get to pick up the eggs and have them on the table here at the galley so our guests can dine on fresh eggs.
The hens will certainly be a help and they will provide about half the number of eggs we need each week.
I encourage you to stop in at the Forsyth Nature Center to see their new additions. If you see Mark there you can smile and tell him you also now know which came first!
